The first day of winter occurs this year on Friday, December 21st. It’s on this day, the traditionally longest night of the year, that the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless hosts its annual Homeless Memorial. The candlelight vigil is held for those who passed away this year and had previous experience with homelessness at some point in their lives or were friends of the homeless. You can visit /memoriam.htm to look over the names of those who’ve left us in years past.

The 2012 vigil will be the 26th held in Cleveland, and this year we are co-hosting the event with the Metanoia Project at St. Malachi Meal Site (off of the Superior Viaduct/Main street and West 25th St.) on December 21 at 7 p.m. We have included a flyer on the event. Its purpose is to spread awareness of homeless issues and to make sure that not a single person who has struggled with housing is forgotten. The message this year is to demonstrate the value of street outreach and drop in centers in the fight against homelessness. During the vigil, we read the names of all homeless people we’ve lost.

We need your help in order to forget no one. We ask that you e-mail or call and leave us the names of anyone who had experienced homelessness (or was a friend of homeless people) who passed away since the December 21, 2011. This can be clients or just friends of yours or just someone you know who died after a period of struggling with their housing. You can email us the information back at neoch (at) neoch (dot) org, fax us it at (216) 432-0620, or call us at (216) 432-0540 to tell us the names you have over the phone.

We hope that you will be able to join us as we remember those who have passed away over the last year. We will have a speaker, a few prayers from religious leaders, and then will read all the names. all are welcome for the Homeless Memorial Day. This is recognized by the state legislature as Ohio Homeless Memorial Day and done in 100 cities around the United States.